Agewell 2021 Fall_Winter-FINAL

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Dr. Michael S. Tehrani, M.D. Internal Medicine & Geriatrics Dr. Tehrani is an award-winning doctor and CEO of MedWell Medical, whose practice is located in Long Beach, California. The following questions and answers are excerpted from a conversation he had with Long Beach 908 Magazine (https://www.lb908.com/the-magazine - Spring 2021) Publisher John Grossi with permission. “The Most Common Questions I am Getting About The Vaccine” What are the most common concerns patients have had over the vaccine? That it was developed too fast. Most vaccines usually take five years or more [to go from development, through testing and approval, to distribution]. Some people are scared it isn’t safe enough yet. And do you think these are valid concerns? We can’t compare these COVID vaccines to previously created vaccines using prior methodology. Today we use newer methodology to create a type of vaccine using mRNA technology. We’ve never seen as many resources and as much dedication going toward the development of a vaccine. Our science is far more advanced. Just because something took 5 years to make a long time ago doesn’t mean it should take 5 yeast now. So, given the time frame, do you think this vaccine is safe? The area I look at with this vaccine is when people as me, “Should I get the vaccine or not?” At the end of the day, you have to look at pros and cons. What are the risks if I get it and what are the risks if I don’t get it? Yes, we hear on the news that a few people got ill after taking the vaccine. But we also hear of a lot more people getting ill with COVID. You have to ask yourself-what are the risks if I get the vaccine and what are the risks if I don’t get it? If you look at the data, a LOT more people are getting ill or dying by not getting it [the vaccine] than by getting it. I think everything boils down to risks and benefits. If the benefits outweigh the risks, you should do it. By now we’ve seen a rapid decline in new cases and death rates with the rollout of the vaccine, which proves how effective it is*. (Editor’s note: *Among vaccinated individuals. We now know unvaccinated individuals make up the vast majority of hospitalized COVID patients.) When is the right time for different age groups to get the vaccine? (Editor’s Note: Remember this interview was originally published in Spring 2021, however the information is still valid and relevant.) As soon as you can get it you should. It’s just as important for young people to get the vaccine so that they don’t spread it to their older family members or other vulnerable people. How do people get the vaccine? You can now check with your pharmacy or the Long Beach Health Department. https://longbeach.gov/health/diseases-andcondition/information-on/coronavirus/vaxlb/ If you have additional questions, please email covid19vaccine@longbeach.gov or call 562-570-4636 22 | AgeWell Long Beach | Fall / Winter 2021
Long Beach Rapid Assessment Clinic free and open to the public! What is a Rapid Assessment Clinic and what do we do? Free clinic available to the community. Walk-in only. Health insurance not required. Assess and treat common problems, such as earaches, fever, cough, stomach pain, and urinary tract infections. Obtain or renew prescriptions for common medications. *If possible, bring a list of medications and dosages. NOTE: The Rapid Assessment Clinic does not provide on-site COVID-19 testing. Visit www.longbeach,gov/covid19 for more information regarding testing. Rapid Assessment Clinic Hours of Operation Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus 1305 E Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach CA 90806 Free on-site parking available. Open 7 days a week 10 am to 4 pm Walk-in only Open to everyone, regardless of health insurance coverage or immigration status. follow us! @LBhealthdept www.HeartofIda.org | 23
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